Dandies and Piaget have always enjoyed a natural alliance. There are several reasons for this: first and foremost, there is the brand’s decision to make only watches using precious metals; secondly, there is the decision to fit them with manufacture movements that are as small and thin as possible – something that allows nearly unprecedented freedom for the brand’s designers. Let’s have a look at some dandy Piaget models!
Here we take a look back at the history-making timepieces of the Harry Winston Opus series from Opus One through Opus Thirteen.
As Joshua has covered the world of watches, another of his passions has been reignited: automobiles. Watches and cars go together, so it is no surprise that he has a strong interest in fast things with powerful motors. This is the story of how Joshua ended up with both a 1991 Honda Beat and a 1991 Seiko 7002 Diver. And he is still smiling!
When collectors gather anywhere and talk about their collections, recent purchases, and executed or potential sales, there’s a term that comes up more often than not: “getting hurt.” Here GaryG provides a master class in how not to get hurt in the world of watch collecting.
The classic dress watch gives you the same feeling that a good pair of perfectly fitting jeans or comfortable pullover does. For some of us, it might almost provide a sense of home. But most of all, it looks good in any situation. Here are Sabine Zwettler’s five favorite examples from 2017.
When Urwerk launched the UR-105 CT Streamliner in September 2017, the year of the trendsetting brand’s twentieth anniversary, it certainly made waves in the horological press; however, I couldn’t help feel that it was a little underappreciated and perhaps in the shadow of Urwerk’s “Reverso interpretation,” which launched earlier in the year, the widely successful UR-T8. Here’s what you should know about the CT Streamliner.
One of the most influential pioneers of the twentieth century in watchmaking, Dominique Renaud (of Renaud & Papi renown), had a fantastic career before “retiring” in 2000 and moving to the south of France. After years of commissions and working on new ideas, a set of very intriguing concepts led to his return in 2013 and with it a promise of once again being a pioneer in the field of horology. And now the first tangible piece is here.
Silicon, long in use as a material in the electronics industry, has many advantages for mechanical watchmaking: it is 60 percent harder and 70 percent lighter than steel; non-magnetic; resistant to corrosion and shock; and generally needs no lubrication. These qualities motivated Patek Philippe to declare in 2005 that, “Silicon is the fabric of the future” and to found its Advanced Research department. Meet all five limited edition Advanced Research pieces right here.
MB&F rarely introduces objets d’art so visibly rooted in horology as Kelys & Chirp: the Geneva-based independent watchmaker generally specializes in exotic and futuristic shapes. Kelys & Chirp doesn’t tell the time: it is an automaton – and most automata grew from advances made in horology in the 1600s.
From a technical point of view, skeletonizing makes no sense: watchmakers go to great length to create a stable and robust movement, only to have others saw away pieces of its components. Skeletonizing is one of those instances when form takes over from function, bringing it even closer to being art.